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 Keconstruction of Texas a Failure! 
 
 KEPOKT OF GEK Reynold: 
 
 Terrible Condition of Affairs in the State— The Reign of Rapine 
 and Murder— The Murder of Colored Men an Everyday Oc- 
 currence—Crime Encouraged by Democratic Leaders— The 
 Number of Troops Insuflacient to Protect Union Men. 
 
 The following is the report of Brevet Major Geueral Key- 
 nolds, commanding the 5th military district, which embraces 
 the State of Texas : 
 
 Headouauteus, Military District, 
 State of Texas, 
 
 Austin, November 4, 18()8. 
 
 Adjutant Genhkal U. S, Army, Washington, J). C: 
 
 General — I have the honor to forward herewith annual 
 tabular statement of expeditions, scouts, and rei)ort of move- 
 ments of the various regiments serving in this district for the 
 year ending September 30, 1808. 
 
 Armed organizations, generally known as " Kuklnx 
 Klan " exist indo])endently, or in concert witii other armed 
 bands, in many })arts of Texas, but are most numerous, bold, 
 and aggressive east of the Trinity river. 
 
 The precise objects of these organizations eaniiot i)e rciitlily 
 explained, but seem in this State to be to disarm, rob, and. 
 in many cases, murder Union men and negroes, ami, as oc- 
 casion uuiv offer, murder United States olHcers and soldiers . 
 
also, to intimidate every one who knows anything of tlie 
 organization, but wlio will not join it. 
 
 The civil law east of the Trinity river is almost a dead 
 letter. In some counties the civil officers are all, or a portion 
 of them, memhers of the Klan. In other counties where the 
 civil officers will not join the Klan, or some other armed band, 
 they have been compelled to leave their counties ; examples 
 are Van Zanjdt, Smith, and Marion counties ; the county 
 seat of the latter is Jelferson. 
 
 In many counties where the county officers have not been 
 driven off, their influence is scarcely felt. What political 
 end, if any, is aimed at by these bands I cannot positively 
 say, but they attend in large bodies the political meetings 
 (barbecues) which have been and are being held in various 
 parts of the State under the auspices of the Democratic clubs 
 of the different counties. 
 
 The s[)ealvers encourage the attendance, and in several 
 counties men have been indicated by name from the speakers' 
 stand as those selected for murder. The men thus pointed 
 out have no course left them but to leave their homes or be 
 murdered on the first convenient opportunity. 
 
 The murder of negroes is so common as to render it impos- 
 sible to keep an accurate account of them. 
 
 Many of the members of these bands of outlaws are tran- 
 sient persons in the State, the absence of railroads and tele- 
 graphs and great length of time required to communicate 
 between remote points facilitating their devilish purposes. 
 These organizations are evidently countenanced, or, at least, 
 not discouraged, by a majority of white people in the counties 
 where the bands are most numerous. They could not other- 
 wise exist. 
 
 I have given this matter close attention, and am satisfit^'d 
 that a remedy to be effective. must be gradually applied, and 
 combined with the firm support of the army, until these 
 outlaws are punished or dispersed. They cannot be punished 
 by the civil courts until some exam})les of military commis- 
 sions show that men can be punished in Texas for murder 
 and kindred crimes. Peri)etrators of such crimes have not 
 
^ hert'totbrc, except in very rare iiist<iiice.s, heeii punished in 
 v; the ytate at all. 
 
 /i£ Free speech ami tree i)i-ess, as the terms are generally 
 J_: understood in other States, have never existed in Texas, in 
 - fact, the citizens of other States cannot aj)preciate the state 
 ji: ofati'airs in Texas without actually exi)eriencing it. 
 
 The official reports of lawlessness and crime, so lar from 
 bein<5 exaggerated, do not tell the whole trnth. 
 
 JeiFerson is the centre from which mostof ti)e trade, travel, 
 and lawlessness of Eastern Texas radiates, and at this point 
 or its vicinity there should be stationed about a regiment of 
 troops. The recent murder at Jefferson of Hon. G. W. 
 Smith, a delegate to the constitutional convention, has made 
 it necessary to order more troops to that point. This move- 
 ment weakens the frontier posts to such an extent as to 
 impair their efficiency for i)rotection against the Indians ; 
 but the bold, wholesale murdering in the interior of the 
 State seems at present to prevent a more urgent demand lor 
 troops than Indian depredations. 
 
 The frontier posts should, however, be reinforced if possi- 
 ble, as it is not improbable that the Indians from the North- 
 west, after having suffered defeat tliere, will make heavy 
 incursions into Texas. 
 
 To restore measurable peace and (piiet to Texas will 
 require, for a long time, that troops be stationed at many 
 county seats, until by their presence, and aid, if necessary, 
 the civil law can be placed in the hands of reliable officers 
 and executed. This will bc3 tiio work of years, and will be 
 fully accomplished only by an increase of population. 
 I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 J. J. IIEYNOLUS, 
 
 Brevet Major General U. S. Army, comd'if. 
 
To the Honorable the Senate and 
 
 House of Representatives hi Congress assembled : 
 
 The undersigned, Anthony M. Dignowity, of San Antonio, 
 Texas, respectfully represents to your honorable bodies that, 
 on tlie 13th day of December_, 1861, the Hon. James Harlan^ 
 of the United States Senate, presented a memorial in behalf 
 of loyal citizens of West Texas. [See Appendix A.] This 
 memorial offered a plan for reconstruction of Texas, which 
 in its effects, would have been followed with immense re- 
 sults. 
 
 Most unfortunately, objections were made, and opposition 
 from Texas loyalists, headed by Hon. A. J. Hamilton, to this 
 l)lan, stating that said plan contemplated the supremacy by 
 the military over the civil power. Gen. Hamilton had to 
 live five years longer to witness the adoption of that part of 
 the plan by Congress in the military bill of reconstruction, 
 but it was most unfortunate that the other and most im- 
 portant feature of this plan was misunderstood or ignored by 
 Congress in passing tlie reconstruction acts. 
 
 If, after the surrender of the rebel army. Congress acting 
 promptly, Avithout permitting the Executive to usurp legis- 
 lative powers, to force upon the nation a suicidal policy, and 
 to sacrifice the loyal people of the South, (an act unparal- 
 leled in the catalogue of crimes,) in enacting a reconstruc- 
 tion plan, it was of the utmost importance to combine with 
 the physical, a moral poiver, as the only true plan of a pos- 
 sible and permanent reconstruction of the South. 
 
 The plan was simple and comprehensive — to authorize the 
 enlistment of loyal volunteers for a sliort term of service, 
 so as to replace them constantly by fresli enlistments at tlie 
 North ; in addition to their pay, a bounty in land should be 
 secured to them from the large public domain in Texas. 
 In this manner a steady cuVrent of loyal elements would 
 havt3 ]k'vu set flowing South, and a moral power would have 
 bci-n added In the jiliysieal, that would, (m-c this, have rovo- 
 
lutioiiizL'il Texas, aiul peace, security lo life ami property, 
 obedience to law, and general prosperity, would have hceu 
 the result. This is a work of the utmost importance ; it 
 will affect generations still unborn ; it should not be hurried ; 
 if one year is not adequate, take five or ten, but do the work 
 right. The coming generations will bless you for it. 
 
 In May, 18G5, a number of Texas refugees, tlien in this 
 city, presented to President A. Johnson a' memorial in 
 behalf of the undersigned. [See Appendix B.] No notice 
 was taken by his Excellency of this document, or the subject 
 therein. On the assembling of Congress, December 4th, 
 1865, an appeal was made by the undersigned to the patri- 
 otic National Republicans. [See Appendix C] It is now 
 lirraly believed by the undersigned, that the late success in 
 the presidential election has removed all obstacles to the 
 adoption of the only true plan of reconstruction, which is 
 hereby again submitted by 
 
 Your respectful, humble servant, 
 
 ANTHONY M. UIGNOWITY, 
 
 0/ Sini Antonio, Ttxix 
 
 Wasiiixgtox, D. C, Dec. 7, 1808. 
 
[Appendix A.] 
 
 MEMORIAL OF ANTHONY M. DIGNOWITY 
 
 OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. 
 
 Praying the military occupation of Texas, ivitli a view of 
 protecting loyal citizens. 
 
 December 24, 18G1. — Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the 
 Militia, and ordered to be printed. 
 
 To the Jionorahle the Senate and House of Reiwesentativcs in 
 
 Congress assembled : 
 
 The raemoriaiist, Anthony M. Dignowity, respectfully 
 represents: That himself and thousands of others, citizens 
 of the United States, of German origin, liaving resided 
 many years in the State of Texas, in which they were in- 
 vited to settle, with the most solemn assurances held out to 
 them that if not all, at least the larger portion of the State 
 of Texas will he made a free State ; that contrary to these 
 promises a strong combination of men, whose avowed design 
 was the extension and propagation of negro slavery, which is 
 the great enemy of free labor, calculated to enrich a few at 
 the expense of the many — this combination, growing more 
 and more powerful, have, by various methods of oppression 
 and tyranny, used every means, howsoever the most infa- 
 mous and oppressive, to silence tlie just demands of your 
 memorialist, which eventually resulted in the most stupen- 
 dous conspiracy to overthrow and destroy the best govern- 
 ment on earth. To this infamous crime your memorialist, 
 together with thousands of loyal citizens of German origin, 
 refused to become a party, were persecuted and liunted like 
 malefactors, and in a great many instances were driven out 
 of Texas, deprived of their hard-earned property ; and being 
 
deprived of the legal rights of representation in your honor- 
 ahle bodies, no other method remains of making themselves 
 heard only through this form of petition, to lay their many 
 wrongs and grievances before your honorable bodies, pray- 
 ing for justice and redress. Your memorialist would further 
 draw the attention of Congress to the fact that at present 
 near or about sixty-five thousand soldiers of German origin 
 are in the field, to sacrifice their lives, if necessary, to uphold 
 and restore the power of our common government over all tlie 
 States and Territories of this Union. Your memorialist 
 would respectfully submit to your collective wisdom and 
 your sense of right, not as a particular reward to us of Ger- 
 man origin, but as a great policy of national economy, to 
 direct the executive power so that the speedy reconquest of 
 Texas may be effected, and to convert said State into a free 
 State. To effect this object, it would be flattering and con- 
 genial to the feelings of all the citizens of German origin if 
 part of that army composed of the German citizen soldiers 
 would be employed to bring freedom and deliverance from 
 the most despotic bondage now suffered by thousands of loyal 
 citizens still remaining on the soil of Texas. Your memo- 
 rialist would hazard his opinion suggestive to carry out such 
 measures into effect. First, the following plan : An army of 
 ten thousand strong could be landed either at Corpus Christi 
 or at Indianola, there to take a position and await the co- 
 operation of an army advance, whicli should be made from 
 the borders of Kansas, of at least twenty-five thousand 
 strong, which army should advance through the Indian 
 country, would overawe those tribes now partly in rebellion, 
 and will bring them back to their allegiance to the United 
 States ; then advancing along the lines of the military posts 
 into Texas, and there form a junction with the first army of 
 ten thousand strong, already occupying the sea-c^ast. This 
 combined force, if desirable, could be strongly strengthened 
 from the loyal citizens of Texas-, and would soon make short 
 work with the rebellion in that State, and, if necessary, its 
 force could be turned either against Louisiana or Arkansas; 
 then a wise and equitable measure of negro emancipation 
 
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 could be put in force, indemnifying those feio \oy?i\ owners, 
 and, of course, confiscating ?i\\ jjroperty oi' the lebels of every 
 kind ; then to remove said negroes either to Florida or some 
 other locality which may have been selected for such purpose, 
 to localize them. Then Texas, freed from this blasting in- 
 cubus, would and should be opened to German and other 
 free-soil emigrants. This, in the view of your memorialist, 
 would form a great plan of political economy, and would 
 present incalculable advantages, and will be pregnant with 
 immense results. Texas, if once opened to free labor, could 
 produce all the cotton needed in the world — not only that 
 staple, but a large portion of the sugar, rice, tobacco, hemp ; 
 also small grains of every kind ; the best and abundant crops 
 of the finest wool ; nay, the geniality and salubrity of the 
 climate is adapted to the South America llama, sheep, alpaca^ 
 and hundreds, nay, thousands, of other branches of industry ; 
 the facilities for railroads, its facilities for manufacturing of 
 every kind, in localities of unrivalled water-power — nay, it 
 contains within itself the germ of a large empire. There is 
 another item that will not escape your legislative wisdom. 
 Texas has still an unappropriated public domain, consisting 
 of over one hundred millions of acres of land. This, as a 
 matter of course, is forfeited by the rebellion to the Federal 
 Government. Would it not be wise and just to grant bounty 
 warrants to the soldiers from this great domain, with a view 
 to its distribution and settlement with free laborers ? Let us 
 again turn from this great prospective future to those sad 
 realities of the present. I would crave your attention and 
 your indulgence to state my individual views on this tre- 
 mendous crisis. I view this as a necessary sctjuel of the 
 great revolution of the past century, and I shall be satisfied 
 if its duration shall not exceed the first struggle, the last or 
 present one being the more important moral revolution. That 
 it will be accomplished thoroughly I entertain not the least 
 doubts whatsoever. AVhen it will be accomplished there 
 will not remain on this continent one single foot of soil sub- 
 ject to monarchical rule, neither will there remain on this 
 continent one single human being owned by others as a slave. 
 
This oreat woiU m- niissiuii llio American people are hound 
 and are destined (u accomplish — yes, the complete abolish- 
 ment of the AtVi(!an slave trade, when there shall remain no 
 market for human beings. War with foreign powers is un- 
 avoidable, wliatsoever diplomacy will attempt to the con- 
 trary ; but wlio fears the result? This great nation is pre- 
 paring for all emergencies, and will be amply able to meet 
 them, God, in His wisdom, lias established immutable laws 
 of progress, and, according to those laws, onward and for- 
 ward is our motto. In conclusion, I would take the liberty 
 to admonisb all that a unity of i)urpose is essential, nay, 
 necessary. Our exi)erience will be our great teacher. Hu- 
 manity demands that the greatest results shall be obtained 
 with the smallest sacrifices of human life. The French 
 revolution and the massacres of St. Domingo should admon- 
 ish us to moderation and wisdom. Our John Browns must 
 not be permitted to act contrary to the wisdom of our present 
 ruler. He is the one selected under Divine Providence, by 
 the suffrages of his countrymen, to occupy the highest trust 
 ever conferred on any man. From the judgment I have 
 formed of his character, I believe his greatest errors will be 
 those committed on the side of humanity. Individually, I 
 consider him to fill the right place at the right time. All 
 have tlie right to advise in courtesy, butonly one must direct, 
 or anarchy and indiscriminate slaughter will soon be the re- 
 sult. Our guide must be binding on our acts. Wisdom, 
 justice, freedom, humanity, are universal jirinciples, and 
 must be applied universally. 
 Respectfully submitted by 
 
 ANTHONY M. DIGNOWITY, 
 
 »/ S(in Antonio, Texas, 
 
 on behalf of himself and thousands of loyal citi/ens of 
 Texas, particularly of German origin. 
 
[Appendix B.] 
 
 The following was drawn up from data furnished by the 
 gentleman in question, by request of several refugees from 
 Texas, and presented by them to President Jolinson, in 
 May, 1865 : 
 
 Dr. ANTHONY M. DIGNOWITY, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. 
 
 This gentleman has been identified with Texas since 1835. 
 A native of Bohemia, but having participated in the struggle 
 for liberty of Poland, 1830 and 1831, he became a refugee, 
 and emigrated to the United States in 1832. In the fall of that 
 year he hastened to South Carolina, expecting to offer his 
 services on the side of the Union in case hostilities should 
 commence. In 1835, he was one of the first who liastened 
 to the assistance of the people of Texas, believing them to 
 be oppressed by Mexican despotism. After a sojourn of one 
 year, he became convinced that the revolution of Texas was 
 a political manceuvre for the object to strengthen the South 
 by the extension of slave territory, to be carved out from 
 free Mexican territory. With tliis the Dr. became disgusted 
 and left Texas, and spent an eventful frontier life until 1845, 
 when he was again invited to return to Texas, and to assist 
 introducing German emigrants, with a view to make Texas a 
 free State. A strong party at this time existed in Texas 
 that desired to affect this object, so as to erect a barrier to the 
 extension of slavery towards Mexico. Dr. D. became an 
 active and earnest advocate of this policy. In 1849 and 1850, 
 Dr. D. organized the German citizens of West Texas into an 
 cmti-slavery partij, and was the prime mover to establish in 
 the city of San Antonio an anil-slavery 2ness. These efforts 
 nuide him the most obnoxious individual to the slave power 
 in Texas ; likewise his successful efforts to introduce tlie free 
 school system. Every villany was resorted to to silence liim 
 or drive him away fron) Texas, but the large German popu- 
 
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 lation was a protection to liiin. All the villanies that were 
 practised towards liini only had the effect to sharpen his 
 powers of resistance. In 18G0, tiie Dr. was an earnest op- 
 ponent of the hydra of secession ; he was privately consulted 
 by Governor Sam Houston, and he pointed out to the 
 Governor the practicability of saving Texas to the Union by 
 calling out the loyal volunteers, and with the regular army 
 there present, to fall upon Indianola, and there form a nucleus 
 for all loyal men to rally around, and establish communica- 
 tion, via Key west, with the North, and cutoff the confederacy 
 from Mexico. Governor H. at first favored this plan, and 
 advised General Twiggs to call for volunteers, but that arch 
 traitor did all in his j)(>wer to frustrate this plan, and the 
 result is well known. After the act of secession had passed, 
 February 1, 1861, the Dr. made a last attempt to arouse 
 Governor II., and offered his services to raise ten thousand 
 volunteers ; but the Governor was intimidated, and had given 
 a pledge that if the people of Texas, by vote, should sustain 
 the act of secession, he would submit also, and advised the 
 Dr. to do the same. The Dr. indignantly replied, he was a 
 citizen of the United States ; to that nationality he has sworn 
 his allegiance, whether he resided within a State or Territory, 
 or abroad, his allegiance to his Government will always 
 remain the same ; he had not learned to be a traitor to his 
 country. The Governor deigned no reply, and they parted 
 for the last time on earth. The Governor was a State-rights 
 man ; the Dr. is a national man ; hence this dilTerence. The 
 friends of Dr. D. advised him not to return to his home at 
 San Antonio, stating, as the Rubicon was passed, that he 
 could not live there one hour. He went, therefore, to a stock 
 farm in the mountains of Blanco county, which he owned, 
 and where, with few exceptions, the residents were loyal. 
 On his arrival, he found that a company of so-called knights- 
 vigilant were seeking him, and had declared tlieir inten- 
 tions to hang him as a traitor to Texas. He made his escape 
 by the help of some German IViends, and hastened to Wash- 
 ington, with a view to induce the Government to act 
 promptly ; to give relief to the loyal people of Texas. On 
 
12 
 
 ])is arrival at Washington, he craved and obtained audience 
 of President Lincoln, but most unfortunately tlie President 
 was influenced by that border-State policy that cost the 
 country so much blood and treasure. The military leaders 
 were opposed to any movements towards Texas. The lo^'al 
 people were abandoned. Thousands were slaughtered and 
 thousands were driven out of Texas. Millions of treasure 
 were expended to blockade the southern ports, while the door 
 into Mexico was left open to the rebels to replenish their 
 war materials ah libitum. Failing with the President, the 
 Dr. appealed to Congress. A memorial was presented by 
 Hon. James Harlan, December 13, 1861. (See Miss. Doc. 
 No. 9, XXXVII Cong., 2d Sess.) In it was submitted a 
 inilitary plan for the reconquest of Texas. It was simple and 
 practicable, viz: To enlist armed emigrants on a short term 
 of service, with a proviso that they become settlers of Texas, 
 assuring to them lands from the vast public domain 
 of Texas. By this plan the loyal people of Texas would 
 be reinforced ; and after sufficiently strengthened to over- 
 whelm the rebels, to reconstruct that large State on a 
 model basis, by the loyal only, irrespective of color. This 
 plan embraced the distribution among the loyal soldiers 
 of the confiscated rebel lands and estates. This great 
 measure of i)olitical economy would cut the Gordian knot 
 of reconstruction of the South. It is most earnestly desired 
 that President Johnson will avail himself of the doctor's 
 services. His knowledge of the people and of the country, 
 and his military knowledge also, would indicate him to be 
 the most available individual to lay out this great plan of 
 political economy, by adopting this great measure. This 
 beautiful and large Territory will be redeemed by free labor, 
 and brought into the folds of this great Union, in a prosper- 
 ous and ha})py condition — a result so earnestly desired and 
 prayed for by all loyal men, Nortli and South, within this 
 great Union. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 By TEXAN REFIIGEES. 
 
13 
 
 P. S. — When the above was handed to President Johnson, 
 it was believed by the loyal men North and South that he 
 would prove true to his pledges. It soon became manifest 
 that the patriotic and trusting peoi)le have taken a vii)cr to 
 their bosom. Nothing can be done until the people sliall 
 hurl him down from his high position. 
 
[Appendix C] 
 
 RECONSTRUCTION ! ! 
 
 An appeal to the Fatriotic National liepuhlican Members of 
 Congress, in behalf of all loyal 7'esidents of the South, by 
 one luho has been a resident of the South thirty-three years-; 
 one loho has opposed slavery, and the State-rights heresy, 
 since 1832; one loho finds himself, with other loyal men, 
 p)olitically bound, and siirrendered to the control of alien 
 enemies, by a mistaken policy, the effect of tuhich ivill be a 
 cruel punishment of loyal men of the South, and a premium 
 upon treason and rebellion. 
 
 Honorable GentlexMen : 
 
 On the 13th day of December, 1861, the Hon. James llar- 
 hm, of the United States Senate, presented a memorial in 
 behalf of the loyal citizens of West Texas of German extrac- 
 tion. (See Miss. Doc. No. 9, 37th Cong., 2d Sess.) This 
 memorial contained a i:)lan for the reconstruction of Texas, 
 adapted for other localities of the South, which, in its effects, 
 would have been followed with immense results ; had tin's 
 plan been acted upon, Texas would have been reconquered, 
 and it would contain at present 100,000 or more loyal voters ; 
 united on free labor, they would constitute the best element 
 to reconstruct that large State ; all measures that are 
 demanded by justice could be engrafted upon the organic 
 law. This plan was simple, and practical, viz : to enlist vol- 
 unteers of German origin for a short term of service, and ivith 
 a proviso that they become settlers of Texas, and secure to them 
 grants of land from the vast public domain of that State. The 
 German residents of West Texas would have been strength- 
 ened, that State redeemed from the blasting effects of slavery 
 and rebellion, and made the most prosperous section on this 
 continent. All the great staples of the South could be abun- 
 
15 
 
 iliintly produced l)y free labor. Unfortunately this nieinorial 
 was disregarded ; the loyal jieople of West Texas were 
 abandoned ; thousands of them were murdered by the rebels, 
 and thousands were driven out of Texas ; their property 
 destroyed ; a blundering and unfortunate policy was followed 
 towards Texas, hundreds of millions were expended in 
 blockading the southern coast, and the back-door into Mex- 
 ico was left open, and the rebellion thereby was permitted 
 to assume gigantic proportions. High military positions 
 were given, in many instances, to men who were inactive, 
 when loyal men were exterminated at the South, rather 
 than that slavery should suffer ; a clamor for so-called justice 
 to the slave-owners was raised, and pecuniary aid urged ; 
 but nothing was proposed to indemnify the negro race for 
 generations of suffering and injustice. When, after enor- 
 mous sacrifices by tlie loyal people, the authority of the 
 Government is established at last within the rebel States, 
 powers are granted with lavishing hand to blood-stained 
 rebels, and the loyal of every class are surrendered to the 
 tender mercy of alien enemies by the Government whicll 
 owes them protection. The naturalization of citizens of 
 the United States is regulated by laws of Congress ; it was 
 never contemplated that the pardon by the President could 
 manufacture thousands of alien enemies into citizens of the 
 United States, much less restoring political powers into their 
 hands. It is most dangerous and subversive to the Republic^ 
 and endangers the national safety, if permitted, particularly 
 at this critical period. Tins nation cannot afford it ! ! 
 To pardon a man for his crimes committed against this 
 nationality is one thing ; to transform an alien, even after he 
 ceases to be an enemy, into a citizen of the United States, 
 without the legal process of naturalization, is something 
 else. If this can be done in thousands of instances, it could 
 be done in millions. No single mind in a republic should 
 be permitted to exercise such [)owers ; also, the reconstruc- 
 tion of the rebel States should be left to the collective wis<lom 
 of this nation to determine what should be the true policy. 
 Justice to all jiersons and due protection to every individual 
 
16 
 
 014 645 532 
 
 must be secured ; there cannof, there must nut, be any 
 more compromise " witli wrong. Many years of probation 
 will be required before a radical change will take place 
 in the minds of men who were reared under the blasting 
 influence of slavery. The heresy of State-rights was engrafted 
 on the national politics witli a view to conserve slavery ; 
 it cut off individuals from national protection ; it is sectional 
 and local, and has been, and will be again, exercised for 
 oppression and wrong. The right of every individual to 
 national protection is self-evident; this Government cannot 
 shirk its responsibility ; the present condition gives this 
 nation a glorious opportunity ; it cost enormous sacrifices ; 
 it must not be trifled away ; centuries may roll by ere it may 
 again be possible to do the work ; now is the time to do it 
 eflectually, nothing less ; but the political, and legal equality 
 of all persons, and the introduction of free labor, will bring 
 about true and lasting reconstruction of society of the South. 
 Texas, with its vast public lands, and unrivalled climate, 
 offers a rare opportunity to put my plan into practice. All 
 necessary legislation should be done without delay. A call 
 on German emigrants will be responded to, both here and 
 in Europe; the results in point of national economy will be 
 immense, and after the full enjoyments of liberty to all per- 
 sons have been fully secured by the laws of equilibrium, 
 which regulate the migrations of men on this planet, the 
 negro race now on this continent, will be drawn within the 
 tropical latitudes. It will be the great task or mission of this 
 great Republic to open for them a clear way, and assist them 
 on tlieir great journey of civilization. 
 
 Most respectfully submitted, by 
 
 ANTHONY M. DIGNOWITY, 
 
 Of Sdit, Antonio, Texas. 
 DeceiMBer 4, ]8(J5. 
 
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